Straiton is well-served for a small village! We have a pub and a thriving community-run shop, which also serves tea and coffee, sandwiches, pies and freshly made baking. It is surprisingly well stocked for all your grocery needs.

Straiton Stores. Tel. 01655 770 293
Mon – Fri 7am – 6pm: Sat, Sun 8am – 4pm

The Buck. Coffee • Cakes • Crafts

Photo David Neale

Opening Days:
Sadly the Buck is closed at present but hopefully it will be opening with new owners very soon.

The Black Bull. Tel. 01655 770 240
great steaks, wonderful fish and chips, and a good pint of beer.

Further afield, try the following:

Kirkmichael has a very good community cafe and shop and also the Kirkmichael Arms, tel. 01655 750 200, which has very good food.

In nearby Minishant, and getting rave reviews for its food, the Minishant Inn

Good food, friendly atmosphere by the sea – Wildings at the village of Maidens

In Alloway, and only a few yards from the new Burns museum, a good restaurant with lovely gardens – also a coffee shop – the Brig o’ Doon Hotel

Farm shop and restaurant near Turnberry – Dowhill Country Fayre

When you are exploring Barr, try a drink or a meal at the Kings Arms Hotel (01465 861 230).

If you are over Glentrool way, try the House o’Hill hotel – recently taken over, re-decorated, and with really good food

Delicious food, lovely setting in the hamlet of Stair, and worth a day trip for a walk along the River Ayr path, the Stair Inn

Last on this list, but certainly not least: the House of Burns at Kirkoswald has re-opened as Souter’s Inn after a fire in 2012. You will find really good food at any time of day: it incorporates both a tea-room and an inn. There is also a patisserie selling hand-made cakes, pastries, ice-creams and chocolates: open from 9am till late.